Everyone wants to live in a neighborhood that is safe from crime. In today’s Service For Life!® Free consumer newsletter, you’ll learn four proven actions you can take to make your neighborhood even safer.

You’ll also learn about the “tricks” grocery stores use to get you to spend more money and what you can do to spend less at checkout, ways to find more free time, how to add more space in your closet, and tips for preventing low back pain if you stand all day in your job – plus fun facts, a trivia challenge, and lots more.

Lyn Trayte

Lyn Trayte, REALTOR®
Dominic and Co Int'l Real Estate

P.S. When you notice people talking about real estate in the next few weeks, can you tell them about the free consumer information I provide?

They may be people wanting to move in the coming year, and you can tell them about my Free Consumer Report: "How To Avoid 7 Costly Mistakes When Selling Your Home". Mentioning this guide will be a huge help to them because it shows how to net the most money from a home sale in the least amount of time. To request a copy for a friend, simply email me by clicking here.

Today's Brain Teaser . . .

I am a word, of meanings three.
Three ways of spelling me there be.
The first is an odor, a smell if you will.
The second is money, but not in a bill.
The third is a past tense, a method of passing things in or around.
Can you tell me these words that have the same sound? (3 answers)

(see answer below)

How To Make Your Neighborhood A Safer Place

Whether you’ve just moved in or you’ve been living in your home for years, you want your neighborhood to be safe from crime for you and your family. Take these actions to make it even safer.

Safety is a team effort, so get to know your neighbors. Who works during the day? Who has kids? Who is retired? Maintain a list of home/cell/work numbers so you can call each other if you see something suspicious. For example, some thieves pose as movers. If you see someone at your neighbor’s house putting flat screen TVs and computers in a truck, don’t assume it’s a legitimate activity. Call your neighbors to check, especially if they aren’t home.

Work with your police or sheriff’s office to launch a Neighborhood Watch Program. It unites law enforcement and citizens to reduce residential crime. To find an existing program or learn how to start one of your own, go to www.nnw.org.

Improve your neighborhood lighting. If you don’t have adequate street lighting, join with your neighbors in turning on your outside lights every night. An effective and inexpensive idea is to place sensor-activated lighting around the outside of your home, especially entry doors and garages ($20 – $80 at Home Depot or Amazon).

Talk to your neighbors about home security systems. Visit a site such aswww.safewise.com for information on a variety of systems. You can get basic ADT monitoring, for example, for $37 a month plus $99 for installation. Some insurance providers offer a discount if you purchase a complete security system. The site also offers an excellent Home Security Checklist (click on Learn and Home Security Resources.)

Did you know there’s a free consumer report revealing ways to save time and money when buying a home? It’s called “8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Finding and Buying Your Next Home,” and it’s great even if you’re not planning to buy soon. To request your copy, email me by clicking here.

Avoid These Sneaky Grocery Store Tricks To Save $$$

Do you ever get to the checkout at a grocery store and realize you spent way more than you expected? What happened? Stores know how to get you to spend more money, so watch for these five “tricks”:

Trick: Locating the dairy products and meat in the back of the store so you’ll fill your cart with items from the inner aisles first.

Solution: Shop around the perimeter of the store first (including fresh produce) and then move to the inner aisles if you need canned and packaged products.

Trick: Putting the per-ounce or per-unit label in small print on the shelf price tag.

Solution: Always check that small print on the shelf price tag. Don’t assume the larger package is more economical.

Trick: Placing “Sale” signs on the products displayed on the ends of the aisles (the “endcaps”).

Solution: Read prices closely to see if the item is really on sale.

Trick: Putting certain (possibly more expensive) manufacturers’ products at eye-level on the shelves.

Solution: Look high and low on the shelves for the lower-priced product you may want.

Trick: Displaying cheese in a beautiful “gourmet” section.

Solution: Check the dairy section first for items like mozzarella or feta. Gourmet cheese can be many times more expensive.

I want to share a little secret with you. I don’t spend my time cold calling or pestering people for business. Instead, I focus 110% of my efforts on giving such outstanding service that people naturally think of me when a friend, neighbor or family member needs a caring and competent REALTOR®.

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank a few of the special people in my life who’ve helped build my business with their enduring support and referrals. I couldn’t do it without you!

A huge Thank You to Rebecca & James Monrean, who had faith in me over the years to lease out their home in Fountain Hills and now assist them to get it sold. so they can fully break their ties with Arizona and concentrate on their new home state of Illinois.

Fun Facts and Laughs

Add More Space To Your Closet . . .

Is your clothes closet (or your teenager’s closet) a “hot mess”? (See definition in left column.) Try these ideas to make it more functional.

First things first: Empty out your closet and donate or consign everything you haven’t worn in the last two years.

Install closet organizing products available at stores such as Lowe’s and the Container Store. Sales people can help you choose the right pieces. Save time by inviting a friend to help!

Guess who won last month's Trivia Question? I'm pleased to announce the lucky winner of last month's quiz. And the winner is, drum roll please: Kathryn Jones was the first person to correctly answer my quiz question.

What ancient city and UNESCO site is carved into a sandstone cliff?

a) Ur b) Petra c) Palmyra d) Carthage

The answer is b) Petra. This prehistoric city was an important crossroads for trade among ancient nations. Let’s move on to this month’s trivia question.

EMAIL ME BY:Clicking Here OR Call Me At 602-739-0095And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!

Brain Teaser Answer:

Scent, cent, sent!

Thanks For Thinking of Me!

Did you know I can help you or any of your friends or family save time and money when buying or selling a home? Thanks for keeping me in mind with your referrals...and spreading the word about my services.

Real Estate Q & A . . .

Q. Are there any secrets to finding the right home at the right price with the right financing?

A. Lots of homebuyers waste time and money by not doing their homework before going home shopping. Here’s what you should do:

Analyze your NEEDS before you start looking. Make a list, including price range, size, general location, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.

Know what you WANT in your next home. List the features you’d like to have and rank them in terms of importance. If you have a spouse, set your priorities as a couple.

Understand how much home you can afford. Become familiar with your “payment-to-income ratio” and your “debt-to-income ratio,” two guides bankers and mortgage lenders use to determine how much loan you can afford.

For more home buying tips, ask for my Free Consumer Report called “8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Buying Your Next Home.” Call me and I’ll send a copy right over to you.

Do you have a real estate question you want answered? Feel free to call me at 602-739-0095 or email me by clicking here. Perhaps I’ll feature it in my next issue!

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Disclaimer: The information contained in this email is intended for informational purposes. It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical or other professional services advice. Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This email is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale.